“P” is for the Palmetto, the state tree. The Sabal palmetto became the state tree in 1939, but the palmetto has appeared on the state seal since the Revolutionary War and on the state flag since 1861. The word “palmetto” comes from the Spanish palmito [“little palm”], but the origin of Sabal is uncertain. The palmetto is a branchless palm with long, fan-like evergreen leaves that spread atop a thick stem or trunk. Palmetto is a wind-adapted species and its soft trunk and strong root system allow it to bend in high winds without breaking or being uprooted. Botanists do not consider it a true tree since it lacks a solid wood trunk. The palmetto's range is the coastal area of North Carolina to Florida and the Florida panhandle. It can grow as high as sixty-five feet and mature South Carolina palmettos average thirty to forty feet tall.
“P” is for the Palmetto
